Apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. N. WILGOX. AUXILIARY POWER MECHANISM FOR ROGKING AND SWINGINGAPPARATUS. No. 467,842. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH $32 Mak (No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sl1eet 2.

G. N. WILGOX. AUXILIARY POWER MECHANISM FOR ROCKING AND swmemaAPPARATUS.

No. 467,842. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

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INVENTUR wlTnEsgEs;

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0. N. WILOOX. AUXILIARY POWER MECHANISM FOR 1100mm; AND swmqmeAPPARATUS. No. 467,842. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

WITNESSES: INVENTU 10k l ALA m: Noam! vzrzns ca, Moro-urns msummon, n.c.

NrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CURTIS N. IVILOOX, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEBORAH C. FOLK,OF SAME PLACE.

AUXILIARY POWER MECHANISM FOR ROCKING AND SWINGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,842, dated January26, 1892. Application filed November 15, 1888- Serial No. 290,946 (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CURTIS N. \VILCOX, of the city of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certainImprovements in Auxiliary Power Mechanism for Rocking and Swin gin gApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus in which the operator produces forwork, pleasure, or

exercise a rocking orswinging motion, and is more especially designedfor sewing-machine stands, but is also applicable, in whole or in part,to other stands for power purposes, to cradles, swings, rocking chairs,vibrating r 5 chairs, tilting-chairs, and other rocking or swingingapparatus.

The invention consists, primarily, in the combination, with asupporting-frame and a treadle or equivalent device, of an interme- 2odiate tensioned treadle-supporting torsionspring and bearings over andunder which the spring extends in zigzag course between the points whereits tensioned ends are secured. By this means I am enabled to secure thetreadle firmly in place relatively to the supporting-frame without theaid of other fastenings whatsoever. By the term treadle I mean notmerely the conventional treadle,

but any appliance-such as a plate, lever, or other devicethrough theinstruinentalityof which, when connected to the spring, torsional straincan be exerted upon said spring, and when said term is hereinafter used,particularly in the claims, I desire to be under- 3 5 stood as using itin this broad sense.

The invention also consists in means forsecuring the ends of thetensioned torsionspring which are designed to effect this ob- ,jectwithout perforation or cutting of the spring, said means comprising,essentially, an eye formed on the end of the spring, in combination witha holder having a cavity or seat to receive the eye and a slot for thepassage of the end of the spring on which said eye is formed, and a pinor plug which is inserted in and fills said eye. These are the moreprominent features of my invention. They, together with other features,can best be explained and understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which, forthe sake of illustration, I have represented myimprovements as applied to a sewing-machine stand.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sewing-machine stand; V V, itstwo legs, supporting a table U. which, together with the usual backbrace X, holds such legs in position at the top, while at the bottomthey are held in position by the lower partof the brace X and an underbrace B,secured at each end bya screw 12 to a middle portion A of eachof the legs V V. C is a treadle attached and supported by a fiattorsion-spring D, fastened at one end to a shoulder-bolt E and at theother end to a bolt E, both bolts being held to the legs at A A,respectively, by nuts 6 6 one of which prevents the shouldered nut Efrom turning 011 its axis, while the other, in con junction with aninner check-nut 6 serves a similar purpose for the bolt E. The treadle Ois provided at its forward or toe end with two projections 17 1',between which is held another flat torsion-spring J, to which one end ofa pitman K is attached, the other end connecting with a crank Q on afly-wheel IV.

Figs. 2, 3, 4., 6, and 7 are longitudinal vertical sectional viewsillustrating diiferent forms or modifications of the braced support forthe treadle-operating spring and treadle, said figures showing also thetreadle, spring, and fastenings for both in various forms, as will behereinafter more fully explained.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the braced support and flatspring D shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fiat spring D shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6with its middle wedge.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the bolts in Fig. 3 for holding thespring end.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view on line .2 .2 of Fig. 1 of a portionof a treadle with pitman-spring and pitman end, with their con nections,Fig. 8 being a sectional detail on line i) c of Fig. 8 in direction ofarrow 2, and Fig. S a section taken on line y 1 of Figs. 8 5 and 8 seenin direction of arrow Fig. 0 is a sectional view, and Fig. 9 a sectionon line to w, of Fig. 9, showing a slightlymodified arrangement of thepitnian-spring. pitman, and treadle, with connections, from we thatshown in Fig. 8.

The brace-support for the spring and treadle has in each instance(referring now to Figs.

2, 3, 4, 6, and 7) two sides A A; but the cross bar or brace holdingthem apart varies in construction, attachment, and arrangement. Thus inFigs. 2 and 6 it is shown as a round rod B, threaded at its ends andsecured to the sides A A by outside nuts I) I), screwed upon it, andinside check-nuts b b. In Figsf3 and 4 it is shown as a ribbed castbrace B and 13 attached to the sides A A by screws 17" b in Fig. 3, orin any other suitable manner. In Fig. 7 it is shown as a rod B havingits two ends 19 (3 attached by pivots b b to two lugs A A in the sides AA, the middle of the rod having toggle-joints b 12 connected by a pin b,so that the jointed part may be swung hori- Zontally outward and inwardupon the pivots 19 19 a sleeve 13 being slid over the jointed part andsecured there by a set-screw or other suitable means when'it is desiredto keep the rod straightened and rigid between its sup ports A A. InFigs. 2, 3, 6, and 7 the bar or brace is entirely below the line of thespring, so that the tensioning of the latter would tend to draw thatpart of the sides A A located above the spring toward each other unlessprevented by a second brace above the line of the spring. In Figs. 2 and4c the necessity for such second brace is avoided by providing the braceitself with supports for the spring in lieu of attaching the spring tothesides A A; but in all the cases it will be seen that the brace B isin near proximity to the spring and substantially in line therewith forthe purpose of securing for it the strongest position and constructionfor resisting the tensioning strain of the spring and preventing anyVariation in the tension.

In Figs. 3 and 6 the spring is tensioned between the sides A A, and inFig. 7 itis designed to be similarly tensioned. In Fig. 2, however, itis tensioned between the two sides of the treadle, while in Fig. i thebrace is provided with two projecting supports B B near its ends,(between which supports the spring is tensi0ned,) and is alsoconstructed with one end B separate from the main part and having aninward projecting portion 1) to slide longitudinally within acorresponding bore b in such main part, so that the brace may thus beextended or shortened at pleasure and its length fixed by set-screws Z9or other suitable means.

This form of brace is especially desirable for attachment to standsalready constructed and which are of various width between their sidesupports. WVhere the spring is tensioned in the treadle, the bearingsover which it is caused to pass or extend in zigzag course are formed onor attached to the supportingframe or some part connected therewith. Forexample, in Fig. 2, (where the spring is tensioned in the treadle',) thebrace B supports the spring by means of a sleeve B, (see, also, Fig. 2%)adapted to slide longitudinally over such brace and fastened to it byset-screws 17* 12*, such sleeve being provided at its middle with abearing projection f, (upon the upper surface of which the under side ofspring D is designed to rest,) and at or near its ends, but below thesurface-line of projection f, with two outer bearing projections ff, ofhook form,under and within which the spring D is designed to be held,the hooks being suitably recessed to retain the spring (and thereby itstreadle) in line with the sleeve (and entire cross-brace) and preventitslipping outward in either direction. The spring may be readily attachedto this support before tensioning the spring at its ends by simplypassing it under one hook, over the middle projection, and under theother hook, and then tensioning the spring at its end support orsupports, which operation wedges its middle portion securely between thehooks holding downward against its upper side and the middle projectionbearing upward againstits under side. A somewhat similar method ofsecuringthe treadlein suitable relation with the braced support is shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5. In these figures, as well as in Fig. 8, the springis tensioned in the supporting-frame or some partrigidlyconnectedtl1erewitl1,and consequently the bearings over which it extendsin zigzag'c'ourse are on the treadle. Thus in Figs. 3 and i the treadleis provided on its under side with two end projections or bearings f f,each also with a suitable recess f to retain the spring from outwardslide-slipping, while a middle opening 0, extending upward through thetreadle, permits of curving the middle portion of the (untensioned)spring upward thereth rough suflieiently far to insert under it a wedgeor stop f (forming the middle bearing,) the ends of which drop downagainst a shoulder c on each side (front and rear) of the opening 0 theupper surface of such stop bearing upward against the under side of thespring and theunder surface of the proj ectionsff bearing downwardagainst :the upper side of the spring, and the middle bearing beingabove the line of the two outer bearings, thus causing the treadle to besecurely wedged in position upon the spring when the latter is suitablytensioned at its ends.

In Fig. 6 the treadle is provided with projections f f as in Figs. 3 and4:; but in lieu of the opening 0 shown in those figures there is amiddle under opening 0 through which the middle portion of the springmay be passed, when, by inserting from beneath a wedge or tongnef,(constituting the middle bearing,) arranged to slide vertically inguides 0 0 formed in a middle projection of the treadle at the sides ofthe opening 0 and sufficiently turning one or more screws 0", upholdingsaid tongue f and supported by a plate 0 secured to said middleprojection, the spring at its middle may be forced upward and therebytensioned between its fixed supports E E instead of being tensioned atits ends, as shown in the other views, except ICC IIO

in Fig. 7. In this latter figure by estimating may be inserted in thefixed supports (in the manner hereinafter explained) by sliding thesleeve B away from the jointed part of the rod B which may then be swungoutward, thus drawing inward toward each other the side supports A Asufficiently to enable the ends of the untensioned spring to be attachedthereto, when, such being done, by pressing the jointed part of the rodinward until it is straight the sides A A will be thereby forced apartand the spring be thus tensioned, the sleeve 13 then, by being slid overthe jointed part and there secured, holding the sides A A in suchposition and the spring at such tension.

To securely attach the ends of the flat spring I) to their supports, toprevent the slipping and loosening of such ends therefrom and consequentimpairment of the tension of the spring and to avoid weakening thespring (as by holes in it) or impairing its temper for torsionaloperation or strength for support, I form the ends of the spring eachinto an eye cl, (see Figs. 2, 3, t, 5, and (3,) insert such eyed endinto a holder having a corresponding hole or seat 6 and mouth or slot 6,and then insert a pin or'plug g into such eye to wedge the eyed end ofthe spring-against the tensional strain of the latter. In Figs. 6 and 7the seat and slot 6 and 6, respectively, are made in inward projectionsE E from the side supports A A. In Figs. 2, 3, 3, and 4 they are made inbolts, (E in Figs. 2 and 4 and E E in Figs. 2 and 3%) said boltsdesigned to be attached by nuts or otherwise to fixed supports; 0 0,portions of the treadle in Fig. 2; A A, portions of the legs in Fig. 3;B 13"", projections from the brace in Fig. 5; and to obviate anyliability of the springs ends working sidewise out of the eye and mouth,I prefer to make that part of the bolts in which the eye and mouth areof a diameter the same or a trifle larger than the width of the spring,so that the spring end may be entirely within the bolt or notproject-ing sidewise outside of the bolt, and then to inclose that partof the bolt suiiiciently within a covering that shall serve as a stop toany side Working of the spring. Thus in Figs. 2 and 4 the projectingfixed supports 0' c and B B, respectively, are cavitied for theadmission of thebolts E, so that when the latter are drawn to theirrequired positions by the nuts 6 the eye and month are entirely withinand covered by such supports and the check-nuts 6 In I Fig. 3, however,the bolt E is made with a shoulder a as a stop to a ferrule 6 incasingthe bolt, the outer end of which ferrule, together with shoulder c ofthe bolt, serving as a check in conjunction with the adjacent nut e toprevent the bolt E (and contained spring) from turning upon its axisafter the spring is adjusted at its required angle of inclination fortorsional action, while the bolt E, which I use as the tensioning-bolt,(after bringing E to its position,) drawing the spring by itlto thedesired tension by adjacent nut e and securing it from turning from itsdesired position by checknut 6 I cover with a nut 6 screwed over thepart holding the eyed end of the spring, which part of the bolt iscorrespondingly threaded for that purpose.

The treadle O in Fig. 3 is provided with lateral projections or guards 0extending over the spring toward the supports A A to cover and protectthe spring from contact with the operators feet or clothing or otherpossible liability to injure or be injured by external objects that maystrike against it; and in Fig. 2 the treadle has lateral extensionscfrom its middle portion to insure a greater distance between the endsupports of the spring, and thus enable a longer spring to be used witha consequent longer torsion, or, in other words, permittingits torsionto extend over a greater length of spring. The spring is preferablyarranged with its flat surface substantially horizontal or at rightangles to the line of weight pressure or force exerted by the oper atorupon thetreadlc, in order that such pressure or force may be directedagainst the greatest flexibility and elasticity of the spring, and theoperator thereby receives the greatest advantage derivable therefrom,rather than to encounter the rigidity of the spring if it were set onedge, or the lesser degree of elasticity from any other direction thanthe one above indicated, as preferred; or, otherwise expressed, I prefersuch horizontal position of the spring in order that the resistance ofthe wheel or connecting mechanism or work beyond may be graduated andsoftened when it reaches the operator, and that the fatiguing andinjurious jar and concussion that are ordinarily produced may be avoidedas far as possible.

To protect the spring from liability to rust, a coating of asphaltvarnish may be given to it.

In attaching and adjusting the actuatingspring to its fixed supports(eitherdirect-ly or through intermediate movable supports, as the casemay be) I arrange the spring, preferably, at such angle torsionally ortransverse inclination that its torsional action, dependent upon theextent of rocking or swinging.

movement of the treadle, will be exerted subtantially alike or equallyin each direction of such movement, thus reducing such action to itsminimum requirement and preserving greater uniformity of torsionalresistance and action on opposite sides. This arrangement, in case ofthe flat spring, may be produced either by setting the spring with itsedge pointing to the arc of movement of the treadle at a point midway insuch are or by setting the flat spring transversely ataright angle to aline intersecting such are midway.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 8, and 8, c' and i represent two projectingforks of the treadle sufficiently far apart to allow of desired.

length of spring for the needed torsion, one fork t'being bored taper tohold the taper bolt or plug 0, and the other fork 11' being straight tohold the straight and threaded bolt or plug. 0', the fiat spring Jhaving its ends formed into eyes j j, and such eyed ends respectivelyheld by two eyes and mouths formed in the plugs 0 0 and wedged thereinby pins 19 p in substantially the same manner as heretofore describedfor securing the ends of spring D, except thatto tension the spring J,of which very slight torsional action is usuallyreqnired, (to permit ofthe oscillation of the pitman,) the' screwing of nut 0 upon the threadedpart of plug 0' first draws the taper plug 0 to a tight bearing in itstaperi socket and then wedges itself so firmly against the outside offork t as to prevent the loosening and turning of either plug in itssocket after the spring is placed in desired torsional position foroperation. K is (one end of) a pitman with a circular hole in which resttwo semicircular clamps Z Z, preferably chamfered at the edges of theirflat surfaces, between which the springJ is passed, and the pitman andspring held securely together by set-screw Z, passing into the end ofthe pitman against the under clamp and wedging the two clamps and springto prevent slipping of the pitman along the spring and out of itsrequired position in line with the crank Q upon fiy-wheel W. In lieu ofa single-ended pitman and a forkedended treadle, just referred to, Ishowin Figs. 9 and 9 a modification, the pitman K' having two forks loholding the eyed ends j j of the spring J, wedged by pins 19 p in plugso 0, while the treadle has but a single projection "5 (between the twoforks of the pitman when connected,) having a circular hole in which thespring is secured by clamps Z Z and setscrew-l, substantially as alreadydescribed in the other (and preferred) form shown in Figs.

8, 8, and 8 The spring (either actuating or pitman) may, if desired, bescrewed at one end to a stationary support-as, forinstance,

e in Figs. 6.and 7-and the other end only be attached to a bolt or otheradjustable or teni sioning support. I arrange the flat pitmanspring(like the treadle actuating spring) 1 preferably in a substantiallyhorizontal position, or with its flat surface (rather than its edge)toward the wheel-crank, in order to benefit the operator by its maximumelasticity in meeting or receiving and softening such resistance as maybe caused by the wheel or the mechanism that may be attached thereto orthe work performed, and, in addition thereto, I arrange thepitman-spring in the treadle connection or connections preferably atsuch angle of inclination transversely relatively to the wheel-crankthat when its torsional strain is nil the opposite end of the pitmanwill reexceptions sewing-machines are intended to varies in machines ofdifferent make.

In lieu of a seat or rest for the body or foot of the operator, (or inaddition thereto,) a handle, rod, or other appliance for hand operationmay be attached to the treadle-actuating spring. What I claim as myinvention is 1. The combination of the frame, the treadle, the tensionedtorsion-spring, and the bearings,

alternately over and under which the spring extends in zigzag course,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the frame, the treadle,

the tensioned torsion-spring, the bearings, al-

ternately over and under which the spring extends in zigzag course, andthe brace, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination, with the eyed end of the torsion-spring, of theholder having a cavity or seat to receive the eye and a slot for thepassage of the end of the spring on which said eye is formed, and thepin or plug filling said eye, substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore set.- forth.

4. The combination of the eyed end of the torsion-spring, the holderhaving a cavity or seat to receive the eye and a slot for the passage ofthe end of the spring on which the eye is formed, the pin or plugfilling said eye, and the case or cover to restrain the eye from lateraldisplacement, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore setforth.

5. The combination of the treadle, the crank, the pitman, and thetensioned torsion-spring connecting said pitrnan and treadle,substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination, with a tensioned torsion-spring, two adjustingsupports at its respective ends, one tapered and the otherstraight and the latter threaded and nut'ted,

and two fixed supports suitably cavitied, re-

spectively, for receiving such adjusting-supports, substantially as andfor the purposes herein set forth.

7. The combination of the frame, the fiat torsion-spring, and thetreadle mounted there- .on so that the flat face of the spring shall besubstantially at right angles to the line of pressure or weight of thelimb resting on the treadle, substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore set forth.

. 8. The combination,with the torsion-spring, of the brace provided withspring-tensioning devices and in itself supporting the entire spring andlongitudinally extensible to accommodate itself to varying widths offrame, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

I CURTIS N. lVILOOX. Vitnesses:

VIcToR ALMovIsT, A. W. ALMQVIST.

